Armenian authorities should encourage usage of social networks in order to better assess people’s attitude to reforms within the country, according to the head of social sciences department at Armenian State University.

At a news conference in Yerevan, Arthur Atanesyan denounced the policy of blocking social networks. “If unable to express their discontent online, people will take it out to the streets,” he said.

However, as he noted, social networks play little role in triggering a revolution. “Those determined to launch a revolution will do it with or without the help of social networks,” the expert said, characterizing virtual social networks as a real-life copy of those.